Urban Impression

[Billy]

Hao Pu Creek (Haopujian) Garden
After touring the Qionghua Islet, you can cross the Zhishan Bridge to the Eastern Shore Scenic Area which has many independent gardens within Beihai Park such as the Painted Boat (Huafang) Studio and the Hao Pu Creek Garden.

Created in 1757, the Hao Pu Creek Garden is one of the best gardens-within-gardens of the existing imperial gardens in China. 'Hao' and 'Pu' were the ancient names of two rivers in Anhui Province. There is a story that goes like this: in the Warring States Period (475 - 221 B.C.), Zhuangzi and Huizi (two famous philosophers of ancient China) argued with each other on the bridge over the Hao River. Zhuangzi said: 'How happy are the fish in the river!' Huizi responded: 'You are not a fish. Then how can you know whether the fish are happy or not?' Zhuangzi answered: 'You are not me. Then how can you know that I don't know the happiness of the fish?' This story inspired Emperor Qianlong to build the Hao Pu Creek Garden to seek happiness and relaxation as free as fish in the river. So the garden is designed for tranquility and happiness, featuring a special mountain-water structure to give the impression of a deep valley which gives seclusion from society.

[Uisge Beatha]

Originally Posted by wolf

Then again, one of my crazier patients is a licensed OSHA safety inspector.

Gee, thanks for making us all feel safe.
At least I'm safe at home for the weekend.

[Billy]

Hi guys, Billy is coming back from other planet. :-)
On 13rd, October I went to Sagunt, Spain.

Sagunto (Valencian Sagunt; Latin Saguntum) is an ancient city in Eastern Spain, in the modern fertile district of Camp de Morvedre in the province of Valencia. It is located in a hilly site, c. 30 km north of Valencia, close to the Costa del Azahar on the Mediterranean Sea.

[Billy]

Old tower, new tech

It is the highest place in the small city. The Roman people never knew that the telecommunication company invaded their city now.

[Billy]

Inside & outside old city

From the relique, it was a grande city in that age. After centuries, inside & outside are different now. Carriages into automobiles, stone hoses into cement buildings, candle into bulbs...

The blue ocean is Mediterranean Sea

[Billy]

During the 5th century BC, the Celtiberian built a walled settlement on the hill overseeing the plain; a stretch of cyclopean limestone slabs from the former temple of Diana, survives, close to the modern church of Santa Maria, but the settlement site is still older. The city traded with Greek and Phoenician coastal colonies, and under their influence, minted its own coins. During this period the city was known as Arse (Ripollès i Alegre 2002). By 219 BC Saguntum was a large and commercially prosperous town, which sided with the local Greek colonists and Rome against Carthage, and drew Hannibal's first assault, his siege of Saguntum, the opening move of the Second Punic War. After a harsh resistance of several months, related by the Roman historian Livy, Saguntum was captured in 219 by the armies of Hannibal.

Hispania was not meekly pacified and Romanized, as the Iberian career of Quintus Sertorius makes clear. Saguntum minted coins under his protection, and continued to house a mint when, as Roman Saguntum, it was rebuilt and flourished with the rank of municipium. This later prosperity lasted most of the empire through, and is attested by inscriptions and ruins (notably a theater, demolished by Napoleon's marshal Louis Gabriel Suchet, who also destroyed the Roman tower of Hercules). With the Arian Visigothic kings, Saguntum received its Catholic patron saint, a bishop named Sacerdos, who died peacefully of natural causes about AD 560. In the early 8th century, as part of the Caliphate of Cordoba the city reached a new age of splendor, with baths, palaces, mosques and schools for its cosmopolitan population. Then, the town was known as Morvedre (Morviedro in Spanish), a word derived from Latin muri veteres "ancient walls." However, as Valencia grew, Saguntum declined. In 1098 it was briefly reconquered by El Cid, although the definitive reconquest waited until 1238, under Jaime I of Aragon.

Saguntum was badly damaged in warfare, but has retained many Valencian Gothic structures. In the late 19th century, a steel-making industry grew up that supports the modern city, which extends in the coastal plain below the citadel hill.

[Sundae]

Hey Billy, welcome back!
We sending you Christmas cards again this year? Warn me in plenty of time if we are, I didn't keep your address.

I love Valencia, but your shots a testament to the fact you can find the unfamiliar in (what to me is) familiar. It's a talent.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Hi Billy. Business or pleasure trip?

[Billy]

I will stay here for several months. Please drop me a line if you come to Spain.

I guess that I will have a Chrsitmas in Europe this year. I am not sure that I can recieve your cards here if oyu send me. I will give you a message soon.
Would anyone like take me to your family for a xmas? heehee

I have lots of photos from my trips but the problem is that I cant access internet in my room. Try to post here as much as I can.

[Sundae]

You'd be more than welcome to ours for Christmas!
(seriously)

[ZenGum]

The challenge in taking photos in Japanese cities is getting far enough away from something to get it in shot. Often the best way is to find your subject reflected in something else.
This first one is in Nagoya:


This one is in Tokyo:


The other option is to pay to go to the top of something very tall. This was taken from the towers in the shot above. I can't help wondering what's going to happen here when the next "big one" hits Tokyo...

[Billy]

I escaped from the friendly jokes to Hangzhou for one day. The Xihu -- West Lake was very beautiful in the spring. I will come back one day.

[Billy]

White blossoms make the peak green leavies younger.

[Billy]

Red blossoms match the green leavies
The wild flowers alao tried to show their beauty.

[Sundae]

You're a poet as well as an artist!
Lovely to see more pictures from you Billy - always appreciated